December 2: Jacksonville Forest Park Trail System New Hike
TH: From the 4-way stop in Jacksonville continue 0.8 miles on Highway 238 to a right on Reservoir Road. Up Reservoir Road for approximately 1 mile to the trailhead parking area on the right.  EDT: 35 minutes. Description: We are going to explore this new to us trail system just outside Jacksonville at Jim's suggestion. You can find a trail map here. We are going to shoot for 7 to 8 miles and 1,000' of elevation change. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 40 miles.

December 9: Enchanted Forest Trail to Tick Knoll (p. 3 Favorite Hikes of the Applegate)
TH: Thru Jacksonville and take Highway 238 towards Applegate for 15 miles. Just before downtown Applegate and the bridge, make a right onto North Applegate Road for 4.5 miles to a right on Kubli Road for 400' and then right on Slagle Creek Road for 1.5 miles to the pavement end at the TH. EDT: 60 minutes. Description: Take the Enchanted Forest trail up to our lunch spot on Tick Knoll for views of the Applegate Valley and Red Buttes. Distance: 5 miles. Climbing: 1,800'. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 80 miles.

December 16: Bull Gap Loop - Snowshoe Trip.
TH: Take Highway I-5 South to Exit 6, the Mt. Ashland ski road. Up the ski road to the Bull Gap turn off.  Sno-Park permit required. EDT: 30 minutes. Description: Let's enjoy El Nino's first gift of the season with a loop snowshoe - out on the Bull Gap Road, down the PCT and back via an old logging road and the Bull Gap Road. We should be done early, so plan to have lunch at an Ashland restaurant of the group's choice.  Distance: 3.5 miles; elevation gain: 650 feet. Weather Forecast. RT mileage: 40 miles.

December 23: Sterling Mine Ditch Trail: Wolf Gap to Deming Gulch (p. 144 in 100 Hikes) Hike leader: Lynn Clegg
TH:Up 99 to a left on Colver Road for 1.8 miles. Left onto Pioneer and follow it 5.4 miles to Griffin Creek Road. Left on Griffin Creek Road for 1.3 miles Straight onto Griffin Lane for 4.8 miles. Left onto Sterling Creek for 2.2 miles. Left onto BLM 39-2-8 for 1.0 mile (bearing left) to drop shuttle car at Deming Gulch TH. Continue on for 1.8 mile to the Wolf Gap TH. EDT: 45 min. Description: The Wolf Gap trail drops 800' in a mile and a half down to the Sterling Mine Ditch Trail across an open meadow with good views of the Little Applegate valley. Once down to the ditch it is a relatively level walk back to the shuttle car with nice views of the valley.  Distance: 9 miles; elevation loss: 800 feet. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 60 miles.

December 30: Moon Prairie Snowshoe
TH: Follow DIM 22 miles to the Deadwood Sno-Park (junction with FS Road 37); Sno-Park Permit required. EDT: 45 minutes; Description: We first and last did this in 2013 and really enjoyed it. Cross DIM from the Sno-Park and head south along Moon Prairie Road. Do the loop in a clockwise direction. Distance: 5.4 miles; climbing: 300 feet. Howard Prairie SNOTEL. Weather Forecast. RT mileage: 50 miles